The Progress of Nosey Puppy.

Last month I decided I wanted to get Ada a pull toy doggy for Christmas.  I searched and searched but I couldn’t find one I liked.  None were cute enough, none looked like our dogs so that Ada would recognize it.  She loves dogs so much for some reason.

Then I saw Fisher Price Nosey Puppy #445 from the 1950’s.

I found one for sale on Etsy for just a few dollars…

He was in sad condition, but I had to buy him!

On the other side of his head he didn’t even have an eye!

I decided to sand him down to the wood and re-do him completely in non-toxic acrylic paint.

This was fun. His ears ripped off, the felt was brittle.  I felt sad when I was sanding off his little smile and his one huge eye.

Naked Nosey Puppy!

Then…a white base coat.  It took three coats before it was thick enough to not see through.

I had a dilemma after this–I wanted to draw details onto him, but I didn’t know what to use to draw with.

At first I thought Sharpie, but then I read online that the clear top coat glaze would cause the sharpie to smear when I glazed him at the end.

I googled and googled and couldn’t figure out what to do.

As I was cleaning up Rosie’s art mess I picked up a fine tip Uniball pen to put away and noticed it said water proof and fade resistant on the side.

I did a small test on the bottom of the doggy–it didn’t smear when glazed over!  Perfect.

So I immediately drew a few details back onto him.  I wanted to make him look like our Fox Hound, Hank, but also like his original Nosey Puppy face.

Then I filled him in with some color…and finally I put a thick coat of non-toxic non-yellowing clear glaze over top of everything.

I even glazed his nose and wheels, which I did not repaint.  I wasn’t sure if the 1950’s paint had lead in it or not, but it’s safe now since it’s glazed over.

I also added new ears.  The only thing unchanged is his tail, because I couldn’t think of what to do to it.  The rubber of it is slightly brittle, but not too bad. Hopefully it will be alright.

Here he is!  All done and ready for Christmas!

Doesn’t he look refreshed?

He has one little patch of spots on his rear, just like Hank.

I had so much fun making him spiffy again.  I ordered a Fisher Price chicken pull toy to re-do also.  It’s taking forever to arrive though!

I’m debating whether to just glaze over her worn details to seal her, or if I should sand and start over.

I’m afraid I won’t be able to paint on so many cute chicken details, that’s harder than a puppy.

I can’t wait until she comes, I was hoping she would be here for Christmas.  She cackles when you pull her!

I’m having fun this Christmas.  I’m in the process of making Rosie some crocheted tea party food.

I tried a cup cake.

It came out alright, but I think I’ll do it a bit differently next time.